Swinging for Christ: Couple spreads word of God through swinging

Naples
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A Florida couple says they are helping to spread the gospel of Christ by "swinging", calling it all a part of "God's plan."

Dean Parave, a 49-year-old fitness instructor, had lived much of his adult life as an alcoholic. Following his fifth arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), Dean was sentenced to 10 months prison sentence. He told the Daily Mail:

"For me every day used to involve a case of beer and a bottle of Jack Daniels. After my fifth arrest for driving under the influence I begged God for help. I should have been looking at 10 years but the judge sentenced me to just 10 months in prison - for me that was a sign."

After being released from prison, Dean devoted his life to "doing the Lord's work," even building a 40-foot cross in his backyard.

After getting his life back on track, Dean signed up for an online dating service where he met Christy, a 44-year-old bisexual mother of three. After dating for about a year, the couple were married in 2007.

Not long after being married, Christy was shopping at local Home Depot when she was approached by a couple who asked if she was a "swinger." Initially Christy thought the couple was referring to swing dancing, however once she returned home and did an Internet search of the term, she became excited by the concept. She spoke to Dean about the idea and both agreed it was something they wanted to try.

A short time later, the couple began FitnessSwingers.com, a website designed to help health conscious swingers meet. Dean also wanted to use the website as a unique way to bring their Christian faith to others, saying:

"God has put me here to spread his word and our lifestyle community is a great place to do it. I'm getting to people that will probably never even visit a church. If all the swingers are sinners what's the best way to talk to the sinners? To join them, right?"

Christy agrees, saying the bible does not specifically talk about swinging and if a couple agrees it is OK, then there is nothing wrong with it. She also explained that if they meet fellow swingers who do not believe in God or have a strong faith, they will hold a short bible study before engaging in sex. She went on to say:

"I feel like right now this is God's plan. I don't think God would be mad at what we're doing."

The couple view their lifestyle and dating service as a ministry, a way to bring their faith and God to others. Dean told Gawker:

"If I can go to the next swinger's event and get 10 people to believe in Christ...my job is done."